Clasp

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a clasp for the connection of two components, such as belts, straps or equivalents and comprises a first clasp part and a second clasp part. The first part comprises a bottom plate, and the second part is arranged to partially surround the bottom plate through a cover plate and a cushioning plate. Locking elements are arranged on the fixing plate or the bottom plate and on the cushioning plate for connecting together of the clasp parts in the clasp&#39;s locked position. The locking elements preferably comprise one or more hooks that are arranged on the cushioning plate. A fixture for connecting the second part to straps or equivalent is arranged by on one side of the cover plate and directed so that the force that is exercised on the clasp via the fixture has a component on the cover plate&#39;s plane that is directed so that the force has a connecting effect on the clasp. The clasp is particularly suitable for applications where the clasp parts form integrated parts of a harness for children.

The present invention relates to a clasp for connecting together of at least two parts, for example the shackle of a harness with a front piece.

The clasp is of the type that the invention intends to be used for releasable connection of belts, straps and other parts in many different contexts. In the first instance the clasp is intended for straps, belts or their equivalent, that have extension at different levels such as harnesses for infants and backpacks of various kinds.

The purpose of the present invention is to demonstrate an improved clasp that can be secured and loosened with one hand. It is a further purpose of the invention to demonstrate a clasp in respect of which the locking mechanism is not at all, or only marginally, affected by forces from the secured belts or their equivalent.

A further advantage of a clasp in accordance with the invention is that its parts upon being secured display self-centring properties and show it to be clearly locked. The locking is also secure so that the clasp cannot be opened other than through intentional intervention, when the forces that affect the clasping of the secured arrangement operate in the locking direction, the securing is arranged so that the force that is exercised upon the clasp via the fastening, has a component whereby it has a unifying effect upon the clasp.

The advantageous properties of the clasp according to the invention are also achieved through the control of the parts, upon the bringing together of these to a locked position, being separate from the locking function of two separate but fixed conjoining parts. Furthermore the locking function is placed in the parts that form a sleeve.

The clasp according to the invention may be employed for many different purposes, for example with belts in harnesses, rucksacks and the like, for securing of belts and straps in vehicles, toys and pushchairs as well as in clothes and equipment for sport and leisure. Either one or both parts of the clasp can thereupon constitute integrated parts of the components together with which they are employed.

An arrangement in accordance with the invention and the forms of execution of this possess the characteristic properties that are shown in the patent application.

In the following the invention shall be described in greater detail in connection with the example of a preferred form of execution as shown in the attached drawings whereby the stated directions relate to components as they are depicted in the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a clasp in accordance with the invention, in perspective.

FIG. 2 shows another view of a clasp in accordance with the invention, in perspective.

FIG. 3 shows the clasp see from the side.

FIG. 4 shows the clasp's other part in perspective.

FIG. 5 shows the clasp's first part in perspective.

FIG. 6 shows another view of the clasp's first part in perspective.

FIGS. 7 A and B show an alternative form of execution of the clasp.

FIG. 8 shows another form of execution of the clasp.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the parts of the clasp according to FIG. 8.

The clasp comprises two main parts, a first or lower part 1 that is subsequently referred to as the anchor, as well as a second upper part 2 that is subsequently referred to as the side clasp. The anchor comprises, in turn, a bottom plate 23 and a fixing plate 21. The two plates are parallel or nearly parallel to each other and are united by a low connection wall 22. On the fixing plates upper side there are two slide rails FIGS. 19, 20. The bottom plate 23 also has two tooth-like hooks 7, 8 with connecting outlets 26, 27. The anchor's bottom plate 23 also has the means for fixing the anchor to a belt or equivalent, in the execution example shown in the figures this means is comprised of two fixing holes FIGS. 3, 4. In the forms of execution that are shown in the figures the bottom plate comprises a hole, unbroken disk but it may, in other execution forms, be comprised of grille-like parts with a corresponding function, for example.

The side clasp 2 has a cover plate 24 with a partial surrounding downward directed border with sides 17, 18 and leading edge 25, the connection between the border's sides and the leading edge is not straight but softly rounded. At the rear end of the upper side there is an obliquely upward directed fastening 5 in the form of a grille in order to enable a connecting belt, strap or similar to be sewn fast to the side clasp. The fitting is directed so that the force that is placed on the clasp via the fixture has a component at the cover plate's plane that is directed so that the force has a connecting effect on the clasp. Also by the fixture there is a support edge 6 for the element that is fastened onto the fixture 5 and the fixture 5 is arranged so that the force that is exerted upon the clasp via the fixture has a component whereby it has a connecting effect on the clasp.

A cushioning plate 11 is fitted by the border's leading edge 25. The cushioning plate has a limited pressure area 12 to facilitate the use of the clasp. On the plate's sides there are outlets 15, 16 that are limited by pins 9, 10 which are intended to work together with the anchor's hooks 7, 8 and outlets 26, 27 for the fixing of the side clasp in the clasp's locked position. The side clasp also has on the underside, in connection with the cushioning plate, two tilted edges that are intended to facilitate the bringing together of the anchor and the side clasp to the clasp's locked position.

When the clasp is to be locked and its parts in the initial position are fully separated from each other, the side clasp is led over the anchor so that the anchor's fixing plate is led in between the border's side edges 17, 18 directed towards the border's leading edge and between the side clasp's cover plate 24 and the cushioning plate 11. The hooks 7, 8 will thereupon affect the pins 9, 10 in the cushioning plate so that this is pushed upwards towards the side clasp's cover plate until the hooks have come to a position where they engage with the outlets 15, 16 and lock the clasp.

An alternative execution form of the clasp is shown in the FIGS. 7A and 7B that show the clasp's upper part and under part respectively in accordance with the preceding description. When the clasp is in its connected position the hooks 28, 29 are engaged with lip 30 that is fitted to a downwards directed arm from a pressure plate 31 that is arranged on the clasp part's opposite side.

A preferred alternative execution form is shown in the FIGS. 8, 9, 10. Hereupon the locking takes place between the parts with a rib 32 in the clasp part 2 and the hooks 33A and 33B that work together with the rib and that are fixed to the cushioning plate 11 as is seen from the figures. The outer hook 33A has, in the first instance, a function as a safety catch if the inner hook 33B is unintentionally released from its engagement with the rib for any reason. In further alternative execution forms the rib can be extended to a plate with one or more holes for the hooks 33A and 33B.

Over and above what is described above there are different execution forms possible within the framework of the invention concept. One such execution form can be that the border's sides and leading edge or their equivalents do not stretch at a right angle towards each other but that the two parallel sides form an angle with the leading edge that departs from 90 degrees. Other parts of the clasp are adjusted to this whereby upon locking of the clasp the side clasp is led onto the anchor in a direction that is not at right angles to the anchor's bottom plate 23. Upon certain applications this execution can significantly facilitate the employment of the clasp. In this case also the previously described power component has a connecting effect on the clasp and in a direction that primarily coincides with the two clasp parts' direction of movement in relation to each other when the clasp is locked. Other variations in the forming of the various components in the claps' mechanism are naturally possible for adjustment to different uses and materials.

COMPONENT LIST

-   1. Under part of clasp (anchor) -   2. Upper part of clasp (side clasp) -   3. Fixing hole -   4. Fixing hole -   5. Fixing grille -   6. Support edge -   7. Hook tooth -   8. Hook tooth -   9. Pin -   10. Pin -   11. Cushioning plate -   12. Pressure area -   13. Stop edge -   14. Stop edge -   15. Outlet -   16. Outlet -   17. Border, side edge -   18. Border, side edge -   19. Slide rail -   20. Slide rail -   21. Fixing plate -   22. Connection wall -   23. Bottom plate -   24. Cover plate -   25. Border, leading edge -   26. Outlet -   27. Outlet -   28. Hook -   29. Hook -   30. Lip -   31. Pressure plate -   32. Rib -   33A and 33B. Hooks 

1. (canceled)
 2. The clasp in accordance with claim 5, including a fixture for a connecting strap which is arranged by one side of the cover plate and directed so a force is exercised on the clasp via the fixture has a component at a plane of the cover plate that is directed such that that the force has a connecting effect on the clasp.
 3. The clasp in accordance with claim 5, wherein one or both of the clasp parts constitute integrated parts of other components.
 4. The clasp in accordance with claim 5 wherein the clasp parts form integrated parts of a harness for children.
 5. A clasp for connecting together two components, such as belts or straps; the clasp comprising a first clasp part and a second clasp part; the first clasp part comprising a fixing plate, a bottom plate and locking elements on the fixing plate or bottom plate; the second clasp part comprising a cover plate, a cushioning plate and locking elements on the cushioning plate; wherein the second claps part cushioning plate and clocking plate at least partially surround the first clasp part fixing plate when the two clasp parts are, joined; the locking elements of the first clasp part and second clasp part engaging each other to removably secure the clasp parts together; the locking elements of one of the first and second clasp parts comprising hooks that removably engage the other clasp part. 